This page provides an overview of the principles of Humanistic Judaism.
Humanistic Judaism
Last updated 2009-07-24
The question of God's existence
Humanistic Judaism doesn't proclaim that there is no God, but it does do without God. It sees no evidence for the existence of a supernatural being. Most Humanistic Jews regard the question of God's existence as either meaningless, or irrelevant.
It finds no meaning in the worship of God, whether or not God exists. So Humanistic Jews do not pray or refer to God or the supernatural, or use worshipful or prayer-like language.
It gives no moral authority to God.
The symbol of Humanistic Judaism combines a human being with the ceremonial Jewish candlestand or menorah, to powerful symbolic effect.
Basic principles
Humanistic Judaism is nontheistic and based on two principles:
- Judaism is more than a religion; it is the culture of the Jewish people.
- The source of power for solving human problems lies within human beings.
So Humanistic Jews regard Judaism as an ethnic culture that was created by the Jewish people and shaped by Jewish experience.
It did not fall from heaven, and no supernatural being had anything to do with it.
Rabbi Sherwin Wine (1928-2007) founded the first Humanistic Jewish congregation in 1963, and helped establish the Society for Humanistic Judaism in 1969.
Ethical and spiritual
Humanistic Jews believe that the human moral code comes from people and from the world in which they live.
Humanistic Jews find spiritual satisfaction in secular celebrations of Jewish holidays, study and discussion of Jewish and broader human issues, and action for social justice.
A positive world view
Although they reject God and the supernatural, Humanistic Jews put a very high value on the place of Hebrew language, Jewish history, culture and the ethics and values of Judaism in their lives.
The quotation below gives a flavour of their thinking:
Humanistic Judaism views Jewish history as the story of real people and real events.
The story of the Jews to be found in the Bible and the Talmud contains kernels of truth overlaid with myth and legend. Modern science, archeology, and biblical criticism are revealing the story of the Jewish experience, a story that continues into our own times.
The events of modern times and the literary responses to them are as important as the events and literary responses of ancient times. Theodore Herzl is as significant as Joshua. Golda Meir is as significant as Deborah.
Festivals and family rituals
Humanistic Jews celebrate the traditional Jewish festivals, but with the supernatural elements removed.
They see these festivals as a way of commemorating the shared history, memories, and culture of the Jewish people, and as a way of sharing togetherness with the Jewish community.
Family rituals such as Bar Mitzvahs are a way for a family to restate their values and their togetherness.
Some of us are atheists, some are agnostics, some are ignostics (think that whether or not God exists is irrelevent), some believe in God (not too many). What is important is that we focus on what we can do, not on prayer.
Susan Averbach
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